Cultural diversity
Birthplace
About this topic
Birthplace records the country in which a person was born. It is a core measure of migration history and cultural diversity and helps distinguish Australia-born and overseas-born populations.
This topic is useful for understanding settlement patterns and the likely language, service, and support needs of different communities. It should be interpreted together with ancestry, language used at home, and religion for a fuller view of cultural diversity.
Interpretation notes
- Country of birth measures birthplace only; it does not capture ancestry, ethnicity, or current citizenship on its own.
- Use birthplace with ancestry and language when interpreting cultural background, because many cultural groups include both Australia-born and overseas-born people.
Key insight
In 2021, 53.2% (125,268) of people in Cumberland (A) were born overseas, compared with 38.6% in Greater Sydney. A further 39.7% (93,551) of people were born in Australia.
Section overview
Birthplace - Ranked by size
Cumberland (A) - Overseas born (Usual residence)
This table summarises birthplace for Cumberland (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Birthplace - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cumberland (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
India
2021 count
19,929
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
19,929
8.5%
+1.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
16,583
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
16,583
7.0%
+0.9pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
2021 count
15,537
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
15,537
6.6%
+0.1pp
Lebanon
2021 count
11,185
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
11,185
4.8%
-0.1pp
Nepal
2021 count
10,055
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
10,055
4.3%
+2.0pp
Afghanistan
2021 count
6,206
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6,206
2.6%
-0.2pp
Vietnam
2021 count
4,865
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,865
2.1%
-0.1pp
Pakistan
2021 count
4,787
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
4,787
2.0%
-0.2pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
2021 count
4,481
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
4,481
1.9%
-0.1pp
Sri Lanka
2021 count
4,329
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
4,329
1.8%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Birthplace - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
India
+5,625
+1.9pp
Not stated
+3,440
+0.9pp
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)
+1,409
+0.1pp
Lebanon
+599
-0.1pp
Nepal
+5,120
+2.0pp
Afghanistan
+74
-0.2pp
Vietnam
+124
-0.1pp
Pakistan
+138
-0.2pp
Korea, Republic of (South)
+112
-0.1pp
Sri Lanka
-524
-0.4pp
Data table
Birthplace for Cumberland (A). Birthplace - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| India | 19,929 | 8.5% | 3.6% | 14,304 | 6.6% | 2.7% | +5,625 | +1.9pp |
| Not stated | 16,583 | 7.0% | 4.6% | 13,143 | 6.1% | 6.2% | +3,440 | +0.9pp |
| China (excludes SARs and Taiwan) | 15,537 | 6.6% | 4.6% | 14,128 | 6.5% | 4.7% | +1,409 | +0.1pp |
| Lebanon | 11,185 | 4.8% | 1.2% | 10,586 | 4.9% | 1.2% | +599 | -0.1pp |
| Nepal | 10,055 | 4.3% | 1.1% | 4,935 | 2.3% | 0.6% | +5,120 | +2.0pp |
| Afghanistan | 6,206 | 2.6% | 0.3% | 6,132 | 2.8% | 0.3% | +74 | -0.2pp |
| Vietnam | 4,865 | 2.1% | 1.8% | 4,741 | 2.2% | 1.7% | +124 | -0.1pp |
| Pakistan | 4,787 | 2.0% | 0.6% | 4,649 | 2.2% | 0.5% | +138 | -0.2pp |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 4,481 | 1.9% | 1.0% | 4,369 | 2.0% | 1.0% | +112 | -0.1pp |
| Sri Lanka | 4,329 | 1.8% | 0.6% | 4,853 | 2.2% | 0.6% | -524 | -0.4pp |
Excludes countries of birth with fewer than 10 people.